4/27/18

Osprey

Osprey
(Pandionhaliaetus)
Photographed in the wild,
Tigertail Beach, Marco Island, FL     Mar 2013

Osprey's are fishing birds and can be seen hovering above the water searching for prey. When a fish is spotted, the Osprey dives down and will grab it using its large talons. The fish is then flown (head first) to a perch, where it is devoured or taken to feed it’s young, after the head is eaten.

Osprey populations declined in the 1950's & 60's due to pesticides. But they have slowly made a comeback. Their dark eye stripe makes them look like a masked bandit.

Ospreys have dark brown wings, nape, and an eye stripe. Ospreys also have a white chin, throat, breast, belly, under tail coverts, and legs, yellowish eyes and a curved black bill. They range about 21 to 24 inches in length.








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